The first indication of the Union Government’s softening of stance on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, emerged on August 9, when several Christian organisations launched coordinated appeals on YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp, urging the Centre to either refer the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) or withdraw it altogether.
The appeals were seen as an attempt to provide the government with an honourable route to step back from pushing the legislation through Parliament.
On Wednesday (August 12), Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai moved a motion in the Lok Sabha to send the Bill to a JPC. Amid din, the motion was adopted, giving Parliament more time to examine the contentious provisions in the Bill.
